Thermal control system and switch



June 24 1924.

D. K. LIPPINCOTT THERMAL QNTROL SYSTEM AND S'WI TCH Filed Feb. '15 1922 8 m H W Patented June 24, 1924. 4

um'ran srAras rarenrore ca.

DONALD x. mrrmco'rr, or SA-N'FRANCISCO, camroanra.

THERMAL CONTROL SYSTEM AN]? SWITCH.

Application filed February 15. 1922. Serial No. 586,829.

maintenance of a heated body within (lefi nite limits of temperature.

One of the many applications to which my invention is Well adapted, is to the controlof electrical household devices, such as flatirons. A large number of fires are caused by the excessive heat generated by devices of that character, since very often the person who operates the device inadvertently leaves the connections completed. although the device. is not to be used any longer. It may also happen that the switch is left on purposely, when the operation is interrupted for any reason; and when the interruption 5 is longer than the operator anticipated, the device is apt. to heat up enough to ignite fabric or paper located near it. Flatirons alone are the prolific cause of many fires;

If left upon wood orfabric as on aniron- ::0 ing board, it is quite likely tp ignite them before the household becomes aware that the iron has been unwittingly left connected. Very serious injury both to'life and property may easily occur. It is one of the objects of my invention to obviate such occurrences by disconnecting the device when it tends to reach a dangerous temperature. 1

Temperature responsive switches. have been proposed in the-pastto perform this function, consisting Ora bimetallic element located within the body of. the iron and arranged to be bowed a varyingi amount'as the temperature varies and to open the circuit when it is bowed sufiiciently. So far body of the device. whereas the temperature on the outside surface of the body is by far the most important by which toregulate.

55 The temperature responsive device of my as I am aware, none of these devices have invention is extremely reliable and simple, and cannot be adversely affected by' continued service. Furthermore, the outside surface temperature of the body may readily be made the determining one for operation of the disconnecting switch.

The temperature responsive element of my invention dc ends upon certain magnetic properties of alloys, of which alloys of the magnetic metals are best known. Some of these alloys, it has been observed, lose the property of becoming magnetized upon reaching a certain temperature. In other words, the permeability reduces to unity, and the presence of such an alloy in a mag netic circuit behaves at the critical temperature as if it constituted merely an air gap. While several kinds of alloys are known to have these characteristics, I find that an ordinary nickel steel or nickel iron alloy will serve my purpose very well. When the nickel is present in quantities in excess of there is a critical temperature at which it loses its magnetic properties, and regains these properties only when the temperature varies slightly from the critical one. Thus in a nickel alloy, the critical tempera- .ture is about 78 centigrade. As the quantity of nickel increases, the critical tempera: ture also increases, and in a nickel alloy this temperature is about 307 centigrade. It is thus seen that the temperatureat which the thermal/switch operates may be readily controlled by controlling theparticular composition of the alloy.

The mechanical arrangement whereby the switch is operated when the alloy loses its magnetic properties may take any oneof' a large variety of forms. A magnetizing force may be. used, as for example a pennanent magnet, and the arrangement may be such that the'alloy forms a portion of this magnetic circuit. 'This alloy mayconveniently be arranged to be in intimate contact with the body the temperature of which is to be controlled, sot-hat heat may be imparted to 'it from the body. Upon reaching its critical temperature the alloy may be arranged to move as by the action of"gravity or a spring and to operate by its movement the switch contacts In one of theforms I have illustrated, the body controlled is a fiatiron, but of course the same principles of operation may be a plied in-any other form of thermal controi:

, Another object of my invention, then, is

to apply properties of alloys to a thermal control system whether it be fortlie control of an electric switch, or of a gas valve, or the like. 1

the principles .of the magnetic Still another object is to provide a switch -or valve that operates at a predetermined vention, but it is to be understood that I do critical high temperature, and when that temperature is reduced perceptibly, to operate the same switch or valve so as to return it to its original position.

My invention possesses other adva'nta-' geous features, some of whiclnwith the foregoinggwill be set forth at length in the followin description where I shall outline in full those formsof the invention which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and Fig. 2 shows the lead plug opened up so that the thermally operated switch may be. seen therein;

Fig. 3 is an enlargedsectional view through the contacts of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of a portion of the magnetic circuit which constitutes one of the elements of the control device;

Fig. 5 1s a dlagrammatic vlew showing another embodiment. of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a rear view of the ironshown in Fig. 1. 1 lthough my invention may be used'in a great variety of control systems, I- have ch0- sea for detailed illustration a system for controlling the temperature of an electric fiatiron 11. This iron is equipped with the usual steel sole plate 12, which is adapted to be heated by anelement enclosed within the .iron 11.. To supplycurrent to this heating element, the usual contact studs 13 are provided,-projecting from the rear portion of .the iron. Arranged to make connection with these studs is a plug member 14, which is madea part of the usual flexible connection lead 15, carrying at its free end the connection device 16. In order that the iron may be conveniently placed on end, it is shown as supplied with a member 17 of bent-up 4 sheet metal, forming a supporting leg for the iron when placed upon a flat surface. A guide 18 forthe plug 14 may also be provided. In addition to the usual contact springs provided for connecting with the posts 13, the plug 14 carries another pair of contacts, so that theconnections for the tlatiron may be controlled by them. I have. found that by locating these supplemental contacts in the plug 14 itself, a compact arrangement may be provided for the entire thermal control.

The arrangement of supplemental contacts within the plug 14 may be best understood from an inspection of Figs. 3 and. 4. All of the operative parts of plug 14 are encased in a pair of insulation members 19 and 20 These two parts are adapted to be fastened together by screws. passing through the'apertures 40. The flexible cord 15 is'con-' nected tothe contact springs 21 by means serve to fasten 1 19. The'secon-Y tact springs in turn are adapted to be flexed of the screws 22, which also thesev springs to the. member and to make contact with the. heads of screws 23 located directly under the springs 21'. These screws serve to fasten the contact,

clips 24 and 25,

made purposely resilient so that the studs may enter between slightly apart. To increase the area of contact, the centralportion, 26 of the clip '25 is cut away from the main portionof the clip,

. and bent down so as-to'b e substantially parallel-to the stud 13- when it enters between the clips. .This portion 26. then lies flat on the stud 13. The insulating anembers 19 and-2O are most conveniently made by molding in a die, and are shown as being provlded with deP16SS10I1SOI hollows to accom modate the various spring clips, etc.

The flexing and unflexing of' the spring contact 21, so as to make and break contact between it and the screw '23, is effected by the aid of a rocking U-shaped permanent magnet member 27. This magnet is pivoted at its central portion. between the two members 19 and 20, as shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, and has a' pair of flattened portions28. These flattened portions are so arranged that as the U-shaped magnet rocks to'the left, they engage the springs 21 and cause contact to be made between them and the screws 23. 'In order to-insulate the magnet member 27 from the contact clip'21, there is placed over the clip a.layer of insulating material 29, and over that a thin strip of metal '30, the latter to resist the wear of the rubbing action of the flattened portion 28. l

The pern'ianent magnet member '27 is adapted. to be-attracted to the sole plate 12 of the iron 11 and to be held there normally. This position of the magnet is shown in Fig. 1, and corresponds to the flexed posi them by forcing them to the m m r 1.9. The clips? 24 and 25 engage with the studs 13. and are screw'23, clip 21 to the other conductor in the lead 15. It is thus seen that the supplemental switch is in series with the conductors of lead 15, and serves to control the heating of the iron.

The magnet member 27 is provided with pole tips 31, loosely pivoted at the exercmitic-s of the magnet, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4. These pole tips together with the sole plate 12 of the iron, serve to complete the magnetic circuit for the member 27, and are adapted to be subjected to the heat of the sole plate 12. -The mechanical connectionbetween the tips 31 and magnet 27 is purposely made loose so that these ,tips may the more readily adjust themselves accurately to the surface of the sole plate 12, and be in intimate thermal contact with it. The composition of these tips is such that at a predetermined critical temperature, there is-a sudden change in the magnetic properties of the tips. Ordinarily, this sudden change manifests itself as. a loss in magnetic permeability, and at the critical temperature these tips are no better conductors of magnetic flux than an' air gap. The result is that the magnetic member 27 can no longer be held in theposition shown in Fig. 1, since the contact springs 21 urge it with some strength in the o posite direction. Thus-the member 21 rapi ly snaps over; and the flattened portions 28 finally take the position shown in Fig. 3. The contact between the springs 21 and screws 23 is interrupted, and the iron is permitted to cool. The temperature chosen at which the contacts open maybe such as to fall considerably below the dangerous heating of the iron 11. When the iron .cools sufliciently, the magnet member 27 may be rotated by hand to close the contacts and it will be held in this positiondue to the return of magnetic permeability of the pole tips 31.

The composition of the tips-31, as stated hereinbefore, determines the temperature at which the switch operates. Although usually a ferruginous alloy would be chosen for.

this member, it is of course possible to use alloys of other metals which exhibit like properties.

i The adaptation of my invention to the control of a flatiron has been detailed at length.

I realize however that a great many other adaptations may be discovered, such asfor the control of gas valves or of the temperature of any device. In some of these adaptations, it may be necessary to have the operating membersautomatically returned to their original position as soon as there is ,a material departure from the critical temperature. One such form is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 5. In this case two permanent magnets 32 and 33 are used, having their poles arran d-as shown. A member 34 made of an a loy such that it will lose substantially all of its permeability at a definite critical temperature, is fastened to the north pole of magnet 32, and extends almost entirely to the south pole. This member is exposed to the temperature by which the control is to be effected. Pivoted at the free extremity of this member 34 is a soft iron armature adapted to move between the limiting stops 36 and 37 and having its free end, when engaging stop 37, almost as near to the south pole of magnet 33 as its pivoted end to the south pole of magnet 32. While member 34 is below the critical temperature, it serves to direct some of the flux from the north pole of magnet 34 through the armature 35. There is thus produced a north pole at the free end of the armature, which is attracted to the south pole of magnet '33. The armature 35 is then urged, against stop 37, as shown in the drawing. hen the member 3 1 loses its magnetic permeability, the armature is magnetized by induction from the south pole of magnet 32, sincethe magnetic reluctance of the path between this pole and the pivoted armature is less than that between it and-the north pole. The

result is that the free end of'armatur'e' 35 becomes a south pole, and isrepelled' by the south pole of magnet 33 against stop 36. The movement of the armature 35 between thetwo stops may be made to control a circuit including conductors 38 and 39. When a: switch for the iron, a metallic member arranged to be placed in intimate thermal contact with the exterior surface of the metallic plate, whereby it is affected bythe temperature attained substantially at the ironing surface, and means operated in re sponse to temperature changes in the metallic member for operating the switch.

2. In a device for controlling the temperature of an electric iron having a metallic plate forming an exterior ironing surface, a switch for the iron, a magnetic inember arranged to be laced in intimate thermal contact with t e exterior surface of the metallic plate, whereby its permeability may be affected bythe temperature at;

tained substantially at the ironing surface, and means responsive to a change in. permeability of the magnetic member for operating the switch.

3. In a device for controlling the ,temperature of an electric iron having a metallic plate forming an exterior ironing surface, a switch for the iron, a pivotally mounted horseshoe magnet for operating the switch, and pole tipsfor the magnet of such magnetic material that their per meability is reduced materially upon their attaining a critical temperature which the ironlng temperature is not to exceed, said tips being arranged .to be placed in intimate thermal contact with the exterior surface of the metallic plate, whereby they are affected by the temperature attained substantially at the ironing surface;

4. The method of controlling the tem perature of an electric iron having a. metal-. lic plate forming an exterior ironing surface, which comprises subjecting ametallic ill) and ortfor moving the contact, said member meability materially 'member to the temperature attained by the magnetic member.

, 6. In a plug construction for performing a switching operation for an electrically operated device, an insulating. support, .a contactin metallic iece substantially entirely enc osed in sai support and adapted to be placed inengaigement with a cooperating piece on the e ectrically operated device, a movable contact enclosed in the support for connecting to the contact piece, a member pivotally held in the supaving parts extending externally of the plug whereby it may be operated.

7. In a plug construction for'performing. a switching operation for an electrically operated device, an insulating support, a

contacting metallic piece substantially entirely enclosed in said "support and adapted to be placed in engagement with a coop- I 8. In aplug crating piece on the electrically operated device, a movable contact enclosed in the support for connecting to the contact piece, and a U haped member pivoted in the sup-' port between the arm'sof the U for moving said contact, the arms of the U extending externally of the plug.

construction for performing a switching operation for an electrically operated device, a pair of similarly formed insulating members fastened together to form the plug, apairof spring clips held clips.

sthenmr wntact with" -netic material teri'ally reduced upon their attaining a between the supports in depressions formed therebetween and adapted to be slipped over contact posts on the electrically operated device, a pair of spring contacts held in the insulating members and arranged to cooperate with the spring clips near a portion thereof which is out of the path of move ment of the contact posts on the electrically operated device, and a U-shaped member .pivotally supported in the insulating members between the arms of the U so that the connecting bar of the U extends across the plug and in spring contacts, the arms oftlie U extending exteriorly' of the plug for external operation of the spring contacts so that they may be'made to connect'with the spring 9. In combination, an electrically heated iron having a sole plate of magnetic ma terial, a switch, and means for operating the switch, comprising'a magnet,.the magnetic circuit of which'is adapted to be com? pleted by. the sole plate, and which has a portion arranged to the sole plate, and to Immaterialpart of its .magnetic. permeability uponbeing brought" to a predetermined temperature.

10. In combination, an

operative relation with the-- be placed in intimate electrically heated iron having a metallic member heated to perform the ironing function, a switch, and means for operating the switch, comprising amagnet having a portiorrof its magnetic circuit arranged to be placed in intimate thermal contact with the member, and to lose a materialipart of its magnetic per meability upon being brought to a predetermined temperature.

. 11. In combination, an electrically heated iron, a switch for the iron, and means for operating' the switch in response to the temperature of the iron, ally -mounted horseshoe magnet, pole tips for the magnet, said tips being of such magthat their permeability is macritical temperature which the ironing temperature is not to exceed, said tips being arranged to be placed in intimate thermal contact withan exposed surface of the iron,

. whereby they are affected by the temperature of the iron, and means responsive to its change in magnetic state for moving the horseshoe magne s Q 12. A thermostat for controlling the temperature of electrically heated devices, comprising a. circuit having means for heating the device, tact with the .surfaceof the device for controlling the making and thebreaking ofthe circuit. a

13. A- thermostat for controlling the tem perature of electrically heated devices, comprising a circuit having means for heating comprising a pivotand a magnet adapted to conthe device, a switch in the circuit, and a magnet adapted to contact with the device and to control the switch; v

14. A thermostat for controlling the temperature of electrically heated solid bodies, comprising a circuit having means for heating the body, and a magnet having a part adapted to contact with the body and a part adapted to make and break the circuit accordin to the temperature of the body.

15. k thermostat for controlling the temperature of electrically heated devices, comprising a circuit having means for heating the device, a switch in the circuit, and a magnet, one end of which is adapted to contact with the device and the other end of which is arranged to operate the switch.

16. A thermostat for controlling the temperature of electrically heated devices, comprising a circuit having means for heating the device, a switch in the-circuit, and a magnet having its active end composed of a magnetic alloy which is adapted to contact with the solid body, said magnet being arranged to operate the switch according to the temperature of the body.

17. In a. temperature control device, a magnetic member, and pole tips carried by the magnetic member having a loose connection with the magnetic member, whereby these tips may readily be placed in good member.

19. A connection plug, a U-shaped member pivoted between the arms of the U in the plug, and having its arms extending outside of the plug, the portion between the. arms having a flattened part, and a contact memberwithin the plug adapted to be moved by the flattened part as the member is rotated.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

DONALD K. LIPPINCOTT. 

